- 22 Dec, 2025
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Different types of Oracle wallets
Oracle Wallet is a secure container used to store authentication credentials, encryption keys, certificates, and secrets. Instead of hard-coding passwords or keys in plain text files, Oracle Wallet provides a secure and centralized mechanism to manage sensitive information.
From database encryption to cloud authentication, Oracle Wallet plays a critical role in modern Oracle environments. In this article, we’ll explore the different types of Oracle wallets, their use cases, and when DBAs should use each one.
Different Types of Oracle Wallets
Oracle provides multiple wallet types, each designed for a specific purpose.
1. Password-Based Wallet
Description
A password-based wallet is protected using a wallet password. The wallet must be explicitly opened before Oracle can access its contents.
Key Characteristics
-
Requires manual opening
-
More secure than auto-login wallets
-
Used in sensitive environments
Common Use Cases
-
TDE master key storage
-
Secure database link credentials
-
Encrypted RMAN backups
Example Commands
Pros
✔ High security
✔ Password-protected access
Cons
✖ Manual intervention required after restart
2. Auto-Login Wallet (cwallet.sso)
Description
An auto-login wallet opens automatically when the database starts. No password input is required.
Key Characteristics
-
Automatically accessible
-
Created from a password-based wallet
-
Less secure than password wallets
Common Use Cases
-
Production databases with frequent restarts
-
TDE in RAC environments
-
Oracle Data Guard
Files Created
-
ewallet.p12(password wallet) -
cwallet.sso(auto-login wallet)
Creation Command
Pros
✔ No manual opening required
✔ Ideal for high availability setups
Cons
✖ Anyone with OS access can use it
3. Local Auto-Login Wallet (cwallet.sso – Local)
Description
A local auto-login wallet is tied to a specific host and cannot be copied to another server.
Key Characteristics
-
Machine-specific
-
More secure than normal auto-login
-
Prevents wallet misuse across servers
Common Use Cases
-
Oracle RAC nodes
-
Cloud VMs
-
Regulated environments
Creation Command
Pros
✔ Improved security
✔ Prevents wallet theft
Cons
✖ Not portable
4. Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) Wallet
Description
A TDE wallet stores the master encryption key used to encrypt tablespaces, columns, redo logs, and backups.
Key Characteristics
-
Mandatory for TDE
-
Can be password-based or auto-login
-
Essential for compliance
Common Use Cases
-
Encrypting sensitive data
-
GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS compliance
-
Healthcare and financial databases
Files Used
-
ewallet.p12 -
cwallet.sso
Important Note
Without the TDE wallet, encrypted data is unreadable.
5. SSL Wallet (Oracle Net Wallet)
Description
An SSL wallet stores digital certificates for secure communication.
Key Characteristics
-
Used for encryption-in-transit
-
Supports SSL/TLS
-
Used by Oracle Net Services
Common Use Cases
-
Secure client-server communication
-
HTTPS for Oracle services
-
Secure database links
Stored Items
-
Root certificates
-
Server certificates
-
Private keys
6. Database Link Wallet
Description
This wallet stores credentials for database links, allowing password-less authentication.
Key Characteristics
-
Eliminates plain-text passwords
-
Enhances security
-
Works with
CREATE DATABASE LINK
Common Use Cases
-
Cross-database data access
-
Data Guard logical replication
-
GoldenGate environments
7. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) Wallet
Description
OCI Wallets store cloud authentication details for Oracle Cloud services.
Key Characteristics
-
Used for OCI Object Storage
-
Secure token-based authentication
-
No password exposure
Common Use Cases
-
RMAN backups to OCI
-
Data Pump exports to Object Storage
-
Autonomous Database access
Oracle Wallet File Types
| File Name | Purpose |
|---|---|
ewallet.p12 |
Password-protected wallet |
cwallet.sso |
Auto-login wallet |
keystore.jks |
Java keystore |
truststore.jks |
Trusted certificates |
Oracle Wallet vs Password Files
| Feature | Oracle Wallet | Password File |
|---|---|---|
| Stores credentials | Yes | Limited |
| Encryption support | Yes | No |
| Cloud integration | Yes | No |
| Recommended | ✅ Yes | ❌ Legacy |
Best Practices for Oracle Wallet Management
-
Store wallets outside
$ORACLE_HOME -
Backup wallet files regularly
-
Restrict OS permissions (
chmod 600) -
Use auto-login wallets carefully
-
Never lose the TDE wallet backup
Conclusion
Oracle Wallets are essential for modern Oracle DBAs. From TDE encryption to cloud authentication, choosing the right wallet type improves security, compliance, and automation.
Understanding different types of Oracle wallets helps DBAs design secure, scalable, and production-ready Oracle environments.
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